This is a book review that I posted today on Amazon.com for "Peppermint-filled Piñatas" by Eric Michael Bryant.
Ever since reading the title of this book, it had my attention. The title alone made me wonder what laid waiting for me just underneath the cover. My curiosity to find out what exactly a “peppermint-filled piñata” was kept me wanting to make this a part of my reading list but it was the subtext to the title that made me dig in: breaking through tolerance and embracing love.
Interesting.
Tolerance is a big deal in our society- from the political to the personal; from our culture to our faith. But what on earth could this mean? What does love have to do with tolerance? How could this really make a difference in how we view others and our world?
So I gave it a go.
Diving into PFP, Eric quickly sets the tone of what he was about to unfold for the rest of the book. He immediately identifies the struggles and challenges that anyone who calls themselves a Christian faces along with all the stereotypes and intolerance of the Christian culture that has seemingly isolated itself from reality for far too long. Eric then gets to heart of the matter by challenging his reader with this thought, “deep down, we long to be a part of a loving and diverse community.” He asks us to learn and embrace “the art of woo.” Woo, as Eric describes it, is “winning others over.” Eric smartly identifies that “none of us truly long to be tolerated; we all long to be loved. Tolerance allows us to survive; love allows us to thrive.”
Peppermint-filled Piñatas is a journey towards learning to love well. It tells the tale of what a loving, caring person of faith looks like as lived out by the successes and failures of Eric’s own life. All throughout the book, Eric is giving us glimpses of a world that exists much different to our own while being rooted in our reality. He paints a picture of a world that no longer sees racial, economical, political, "ethnical" or cultural boundaries but rather strives to see all people as Jesus did; as humans who ultimately desire to be loved. He calls us to create this new world and live in it as humans who are willing to move toward other humans offering our friendship and love to each other because of Jesus’ love for us. Through the anecdotes of his life, Eric is showing us the love of Jesus and what an authentic Christ-follower’s life should look like.
If you are a Christ-follower, you need to read this book. If you are just checking out faith, I encourage you to read this book so that you too can see what following Jesus really looks like.
Ever since reading the title of this book, it had my attention. The title alone made me wonder what laid waiting for me just underneath the cover. My curiosity to find out what exactly a “peppermint-filled piñata” was kept me wanting to make this a part of my reading list but it was the subtext to the title that made me dig in: breaking through tolerance and embracing love.
Interesting.
Tolerance is a big deal in our society- from the political to the personal; from our culture to our faith. But what on earth could this mean? What does love have to do with tolerance? How could this really make a difference in how we view others and our world?
So I gave it a go.
Diving into PFP, Eric quickly sets the tone of what he was about to unfold for the rest of the book. He immediately identifies the struggles and challenges that anyone who calls themselves a Christian faces along with all the stereotypes and intolerance of the Christian culture that has seemingly isolated itself from reality for far too long. Eric then gets to heart of the matter by challenging his reader with this thought, “deep down, we long to be a part of a loving and diverse community.” He asks us to learn and embrace “the art of woo.” Woo, as Eric describes it, is “winning others over.” Eric smartly identifies that “none of us truly long to be tolerated; we all long to be loved. Tolerance allows us to survive; love allows us to thrive.”
Peppermint-filled Piñatas is a journey towards learning to love well. It tells the tale of what a loving, caring person of faith looks like as lived out by the successes and failures of Eric’s own life. All throughout the book, Eric is giving us glimpses of a world that exists much different to our own while being rooted in our reality. He paints a picture of a world that no longer sees racial, economical, political, "ethnical" or cultural boundaries but rather strives to see all people as Jesus did; as humans who ultimately desire to be loved. He calls us to create this new world and live in it as humans who are willing to move toward other humans offering our friendship and love to each other because of Jesus’ love for us. Through the anecdotes of his life, Eric is showing us the love of Jesus and what an authentic Christ-follower’s life should look like.
If you are a Christ-follower, you need to read this book. If you are just checking out faith, I encourage you to read this book so that you too can see what following Jesus really looks like.
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composed by
dave
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